OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the interest of cartilage mosaic tympanoplasty in the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective series of 103 patients; the authors analyzed their results after cartilage mosaic tympanoplasty, with a mean follow up of 3.5 years (3 to 7 years). They explain the surgical technique in detail. The average gain was calculated on the difference of the pre-and post-operative thresholds in air conduction on the four frequencies 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz...

Glass-ionomer cements (GICs) originally designed for use as dental materials have a number of advantages over acrylic bone cements. These include lack of exotherm during setting, absence of monomer and improved release of incorporated therapeutic agents; this has resulted in the development of GICs for biomedical applications. Major landmarks in this history are the formulation of defined-composition ionomer glasses and an improved understanding of the biological and material properties of GICs. Following implantation, GICs can form a stable integration with bone, and affect the growth and development of bone, both adjacent to their surface and systemically, through an ion release mechanism...